Boxing Day Test: Here’s a look at weather conditions for highly anticipated Test

After levelling the series 1-1, including a drawn ‘third Test’ at the Gabba in Brisbane, Australia and India will cross swords in the fourth and all-important Test of the five-match Border Gavaskar Trophy. The highly anticipated Boxing Day Test will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne from December 26, at 5:00 AM (IST).

Both teams will be eyeing winning this game and taking a decisive lead of 2-1, which will be a major confidence booster before going into the fifth and last Test of the series. The Boxing Day Test will also play an important role in deciding the fate of both teams for the World Test Championship Final.

That said, here we’ll look at the weather conditions for this blockbuster ‘Boxing Day Test’ set to commence tomorrow. Notably, only the weather played a game-changing role in forcing a ‘draw’ in the last Test at the Gabba in Brisbane.

Clouds expected to play a crucial role

The weather on the morning of the game’s first day will be fully cloudy; there are very diminished chances of sunlight in the entire course of the game on day 1. The clouds will also play an impactful role in letting the toss-winning skipper make a decision, be it balling first or batting first.

The maximum temperature at MCG on Thursday will be 36 degrees Celsius while the minimum temperature will be around 15 degrees Celsius. The toss-winning skipper might look ahead to bowl first considering the bit of moisture on the wicket in the first half of the day.

Meanwhile, the hosts Australia have already announced their playing XI for the Boxing Day Test; the teen prodigy Sam Konstas will be making his Test debut as he opens the innings for Australia with the veteran Southpaw Usman Khawaja.

Here’s a look at the Playing Xi of Australia for the Boxing Day Test:

Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (WK), Pat Cummins (C), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, and Scott Boland.